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Packers Daily Links: Benson Attending Quarterback Meetings

Newly signed running backCedric Benson is attending quarterback position meetings in order to learns the ins and outs of the Packers offense, including pass protection responsibilities. "The Packers didn’t sign Benson just to take up some carries while the holdovers at the position are either sidelined by injuries (James Starks and Brandon Saine) or limited by injury (Alex Green)," writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. "Benson, who garnered almost no free agent interest, is taking his opportunity seriously." No, don't expect Benson to be playing any wildcat quarterback. It's all about getting Benson up to speed as the regular season rapidly approaches.

The Packers offense is under the microscope in an article from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel who talks about the use of more one-back sets, less zone blocking and more no-huddle offense. "This year, the no-huddle has been stressed daily and the drafting of Alex Green and the addition of Benson have spoken volumes about the direction the run game is taking," writes Silverstein. "Green ran as a single back in a spread offense at Hawaii, and Benson was in a one-back system each of the three season he rushed for 1,000 yards in Cincinnati." There's clearly a changing in philosophy taking place in the Packers offense. The only question that remains is, will the changes pay off?

Head coach Mike McCarthy talked about the players on the PUP list, and the news was less than encouraging. "Because of the nature of their injuries - [Derek] Sherrod (leg), [Frank] Zombo (hamstring) and [Andrew] Quarless (knee) - there's no exact timetable," writes Silverstein at JSOnline. "Sherrod and Zombo are probably more likely to be ready between now and the end of the six-week period, but only Sherrod is a lock to make the roster." If the players begin the regular season on the PUP list, they'll miss a minimum of the first six weeks of the season. None of them appear likely to come off the PUP list before the end of training camp.

Both Aaron Rodgers and the coaching staff defended backup Graham Harrell on Monday. "Echoing the words of coach Mike McCarthy one day after the Cleveland game, quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo on Monday supported Graham Harrell after he generated 100 passing yards and three points in nine possessions against the Browns," writes Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel. Predictably, Rodgers was also in Harrell's corner. The way the Packers are talking, it doesn't sound as if they're preparing to acquire another quarterback.

Aaron Rodgers also talked about the Packers' offense needing to get better in very specific situations after a lackluster effort in the preseason thus far. “We really haven’t had a really good red zone,” Rodgers is quoted as saying by Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette. “We got the turnover and scored outside the red zone last week, so to get in the red zone, maybe with a goal-to-go opportunity, to be able to punch that in is going to be important for us. No third-and-short for us last week, to get a third and short and convert is going to be important for us. Last year, we were below the league average I believe in third down conversions and third and one, so to convert a couple of those would be nice, keep drives going. Haven’t had a 10-plus play drive yet.” The third preseason game, when the starters traditionally play the most of any exhibition game, would be a good time to start playing well in those situations.

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, once again, insisted his stomp of lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith was unintentional in an article appearing in GQ magazine. ESPN.com, JSOnline and the Press-Gazette all took note.

" Clearly, the choice of Benson over ex-Packer Ryan Grant, as well as the assimilation of Green, represents part of that change. The Packers want to make teams pay for devoting both safeties to the passing game and this is their answer"

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